Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has issued an alert in view of Moharram and directed all district police officials to take necessary steps to maintain communal harmony and peace.

The government has also issued instructions for installing CCTV cameras at all important places where main congregations will take place during observance of Moharram, a senior home department official said in Lucknow on Monday.

Besides deployment of PAC and RAF personnel, the state has demanded Central forces as 10 companies of the UP Police had been sent to poll-bound Gujarat, he said.

The state police are also bracing themselves up for various melas during the month of Kartik when large crowds assemble, the official said.